So, I'm very very tired, and having a hard time putting thoughts together, but I wanted to tell you guys this.
Let's see. Friday, we took Claire to the pedi for her 9-month well visit. Everything was awesome, clean bill of health. We talked to the doc about Claire's recent night-waking...she suggested letting her cry, blah blah blah. Saturday night, we went to my mom's for dinner, came home, put the kids to bed, and Tony and I went to bed early ourselves. Around 11pm, Claire woke up crying, and I was like "ugh, not already!" We let her cry for a few minutes, but it started not to sound like an angry come-get-me cry - more like a distress cry. Tony went to check her and she was breathing really rapidly. It was really loud, wheezy, and labored, and her neck was slightly caving in with each breath. We called the pediatrician and got ready to head to the ER. Doctor called back right away and told us to go on to the ER. Got the boys up, threw everyone in the car and headed to Children's. Claire's breathing was REALLY alarming, but she didn't act "sick" - wasn't lethargic, whimpering or anything like that. Of course, by the time we got to the hospital, she sounded tons better...isn't that always the case?
As they examined her in triage in the ER, the barky coughing started, and we were all like, "Croup!" We got to a room, the doctor examined her, and we told her that at home, her wheezing got worse when she was lying on her back. She laid her on the bed, and sure enough, you could hear the stridor. So, she prescribed a breathing treatment called racemic epinephrine, which is a big ole high dose of stuff to reduce swelling of the trachea, which helps with stridor. But with that breathing treatment, she'd need to be observed in the ER for 3-4 hours after the treatment (it can affect lots of organs, can't recall them all right now and too lazy to look it up in the 'net). So, Tony took the boys home and I stayed with Claire for the treatment. The respiratory nurse came in to administer the treatment...she listened to Claire for a minute and was like, "I'm going to see who ordered this, be right back." Next, our ER doc, her supervisor and the resp. lady come in. the supervising doc has Claire lie down and, of course, no stridor to be heard. (I felt sorry for the original resident - because I know she heard stridor with the last exam, and I KNOW stridor (cam had laryngomalacia as an infant, and the sound is branded on my brain) Anyway, they decided to try an oral steroid first, get some "films" (why don't they just say xrays? I think it's kind of funny) to rule out a bacterial infection of the trachea, and then see how the steroid works before doing any kind of breathing treatment.
So, they give her the steroid (no biggie, she sucked it down) and then nine years later, we went to radiology and they did a couple of xrays, and then another one. Then the rad tech chicks talked to the radiology doctor and said we need to do another kind of xray called something-something-flora? - basically a more concise xray. The doctor, who was maybe 12 years old, did the xray and then said, "It looks good. What I thought I saw on the other films isn't here." So, we go back to the room and Claire falls asleep in my arms (I think the xrays and screaming wore her out). I watch the 5th episode in a row of Home Improvement that was playing on our room's tv (thank you, Nick at Nite, I now wish to rip my eyes out). Eventually, doctor one and doctor two come back in and determine that Claire sounds better, that the films prove Croup and no other infection, and that no further treatment is needed. So, they ask what kind of juice Claire likes, because they want to see her drink before we are released. I told them she's never had juice, just breastmilk, formula and water...and they seem surprised. Do most people give their 9-month-olds juice? Anyway, she took a sip of apple juice and they were satisfied. It's now 3:30 and I go to the waiting area to call Tony (no phone service in our room) to come and get us. 40 minutes later, we were on our way home.
So, that's our story. The steroid will likely wear off by tonight and she'll probably sound bad again. Cross your fingers that the boys stay croup-free and if they get her virus, it's only a cold.
It was scary! I'm not really one to overreact about medical stuff, but I KNEW something was terribly wrong with her breathing. Thank goodness I was wrong. Not that I regret taking her in.
Luke slept until 8am (notable for him, since he's usually up by 6) and Cam slept until like 11:30! I'm sure Tony and I will crash and burn early tonight. Claire is napping now...she's "normal" with a touch of puniness. I predict she will sleep a lot today.
Let's see. Friday, we took Claire to the pedi for her 9-month well visit. Everything was awesome, clean bill of health. We talked to the doc about Claire's recent night-waking...she suggested letting her cry, blah blah blah. Saturday night, we went to my mom's for dinner, came home, put the kids to bed, and Tony and I went to bed early ourselves. Around 11pm, Claire woke up crying, and I was like "ugh, not already!" We let her cry for a few minutes, but it started not to sound like an angry come-get-me cry - more like a distress cry. Tony went to check her and she was breathing really rapidly. It was really loud, wheezy, and labored, and her neck was slightly caving in with each breath. We called the pediatrician and got ready to head to the ER. Doctor called back right away and told us to go on to the ER. Got the boys up, threw everyone in the car and headed to Children's. Claire's breathing was REALLY alarming, but she didn't act "sick" - wasn't lethargic, whimpering or anything like that. Of course, by the time we got to the hospital, she sounded tons better...isn't that always the case?
As they examined her in triage in the ER, the barky coughing started, and we were all like, "Croup!" We got to a room, the doctor examined her, and we told her that at home, her wheezing got worse when she was lying on her back. She laid her on the bed, and sure enough, you could hear the stridor. So, she prescribed a breathing treatment called racemic epinephrine, which is a big ole high dose of stuff to reduce swelling of the trachea, which helps with stridor. But with that breathing treatment, she'd need to be observed in the ER for 3-4 hours after the treatment (it can affect lots of organs, can't recall them all right now and too lazy to look it up in the 'net). So, Tony took the boys home and I stayed with Claire for the treatment. The respiratory nurse came in to administer the treatment...she listened to Claire for a minute and was like, "I'm going to see who ordered this, be right back." Next, our ER doc, her supervisor and the resp. lady come in. the supervising doc has Claire lie down and, of course, no stridor to be heard. (I felt sorry for the original resident - because I know she heard stridor with the last exam, and I KNOW stridor (cam had laryngomalacia as an infant, and the sound is branded on my brain) Anyway, they decided to try an oral steroid first, get some "films" (why don't they just say xrays? I think it's kind of funny) to rule out a bacterial infection of the trachea, and then see how the steroid works before doing any kind of breathing treatment.
So, they give her the steroid (no biggie, she sucked it down) and then nine years later, we went to radiology and they did a couple of xrays, and then another one. Then the rad tech chicks talked to the radiology doctor and said we need to do another kind of xray called something-something-flora? - basically a more concise xray. The doctor, who was maybe 12 years old, did the xray and then said, "It looks good. What I thought I saw on the other films isn't here." So, we go back to the room and Claire falls asleep in my arms (I think the xrays and screaming wore her out). I watch the 5th episode in a row of Home Improvement that was playing on our room's tv (thank you, Nick at Nite, I now wish to rip my eyes out). Eventually, doctor one and doctor two come back in and determine that Claire sounds better, that the films prove Croup and no other infection, and that no further treatment is needed. So, they ask what kind of juice Claire likes, because they want to see her drink before we are released. I told them she's never had juice, just breastmilk, formula and water...and they seem surprised. Do most people give their 9-month-olds juice? Anyway, she took a sip of apple juice and they were satisfied. It's now 3:30 and I go to the waiting area to call Tony (no phone service in our room) to come and get us. 40 minutes later, we were on our way home.
So, that's our story. The steroid will likely wear off by tonight and she'll probably sound bad again. Cross your fingers that the boys stay croup-free and if they get her virus, it's only a cold.
It was scary! I'm not really one to overreact about medical stuff, but I KNEW something was terribly wrong with her breathing. Thank goodness I was wrong. Not that I regret taking her in.
Luke slept until 8am (notable for him, since he's usually up by 6) and Cam slept until like 11:30! I'm sure Tony and I will crash and burn early tonight. Claire is napping now...she's "normal" with a touch of puniness. I predict she will sleep a lot today.
2 comments:
Poor baby :( Breathing stuff is definitely scary territory, especially the first time you deal with it. I hope she's feeling okay tonight once the steroid wears off. Fingers crossed that the boys stay croup free also.
(((hugs)))
Hey Mel, I'm so sorry that you guys were in the ER! Poor little girl. I hope everyone is on the mend, getting rested up and Claire sleeps okay tonight. ((hugs))
Post a Comment